Dose uniformity of loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic gel (0.5%) compared with branded and generic prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension (1%)

Background: Cost-related nonadherence to medication can impact ophthalmic treatment outcomes. We aimed to determine whether medication prices vary between US cities and between different types of pharmacies within one city. Methods: We conducted a phone survey of eight nationwide and five independent pharmacies in five cities across the United States: Boston, Massachusetts; Charlotte, North Carolina; Denver, Colorado; Detroit, Michigan; and Seattle, Washington. A researcher called each pharmacy asking for price without insurance for four common anti-inflammatory ophthalmic medications: prednisolone acetate, prednisolone sodium phosphate, difluprednate (Durezol™), and loteprednol etabonate (Lotemax™). Results: Prednisolone sodium phosphate price could only be obtained by a small subset of pharmacies (45.2%) and was excluded from additional analysis; however, preliminary data demonstrated lower cost of prednisolone sodium phosphate over prednisolone acetate. Three-way analysis of variance revealed no interaction between pharmacy type (chain versus independent), city, and drug ( F = 0.40, p = 0.92). A significant interaction was identified between pharmacy type and drug ( F = 5.0, p = 0.008), but not city and pharmacy type ( F = 0.66, p = 0.62) or city and drug ( F = 0.27, p = 0.97). Average drug prices were lower at independent pharmacies compared with chain pharmacies for difluprednate (US$211.36 versus US$216.85, F = 1.09, p = 0.297) and significantly lower for loteprednol etabonate (US$255.49 versus US$274.86, F = 14.7, p < 0.001). Prednisolone acetate was cheaper at chain pharmacies, but not statistically significantly cheaper (US$48.82 versus US$51.61, F = 0.34, p = 0.559). Conclusions: Medication prices do not differ significantly between US cities. High variation of drug prices within the same city demonstrates how comparison shopping can provide cost savings for patients and may reduce cost-related nonadherence.

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Loteprednol etabonate/prednisolone/prednisolone acetate

Reactions Weekly ◽

10.1007/s40278-019-62453-x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1754 (1) ◽

pp. 220-220

Keyword(s):

Prednisolone Acetate ◽

Loteprednol Etabonate

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Topical Diclofenac Sodium Compared with Prednisolone Acetate after Phacoemulsification-Lens Implant Surgery

European Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1177/112067219700700306 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 236-240 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

T.A. Demco ◽

H. Sutton ◽

C.J. Demco ◽

P. Sunder Raj

Keyword(s):

Subjective Evaluation ◽

Diclofenac Sodium ◽

Ophthalmic Solution ◽

Applanation Tonometry ◽

Posterior Chamber ◽

Prednisolone Acetate ◽

Local Tolerance ◽

Posterior Chamber Lens ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Ophthalmic Suspension

Purpose. This study was performed to compare the efficacy, safety and tolerability of diclofenac sodium 0.1 % ophthalmic solution with that of prednisolone acetate 1.0% ophthalmic suspension for treatment of inflammation following phacoemulsification and posterior chamber lens implantation. Methods. One hundred and sixteen patients (diclofenac 57, prednisolone 59) with visually disabling cataract were enrolled in this prospective, randomised, double-masked, parallel group study in two centres. Post-operative patient assessments at day 1, 5–8 and 12–16 included visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, applanation tonometry and subjective evaluation of local tolerance. Results. There was no statistically significant difference between the diclofenac and prednisolone groups in the sum of the grades of anterior chamber flare and cells or the degree of conjunctival hyperaemia at any study visit. The overall assessment of local tolerance was similar for both the study medications. There were two (3.4%) possibly drug-related adverse events in the prednisolone group but neither was severe. Conclusions. Diclofenac sodium 0.01% ophthalmic solution was as effective, safe and well tolerated overall as prednisolone acetate 1.0% ophthalmic suspension.

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